Free will or determinism? Parshat Miketz asks the question. Or, rather, it sets out two different answers. Thus, it tempts…
Month: November 2013
Thanksgivukkah: The True History
Thanksgivvukah, the rare convergence of American Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, has been a mechayeh — a revitalization. Maybe even a re-dedication, which…
Found: New Prayers
In this week’s Exploring Judaism class at Or Shalom Synagogue, we discussed “prayer.” Student questions drove our discussion. What are we hoping…
Dream Interpretation, Talmud Style
Hidden in Torah’s stories of Joseph the dreamer lie some basic guidelines for dream interpretation. Our Talmudic sages develop these…
Terror in Afula
A numinous dream, last Wednesday: I am on Kibbutz Ein Dor, near the city of Afula in Northern Israel, visiting…
Spirituality vs. Religion
It’s possible to define “spirituality” as engagement with direct experience of the holy, and “religion” as an established system for…
Life's Night and Day (short)
Jacob runs away from conflict with his brother Esau and heads for the City of Haran. That night, Torah says,…
Remembering Freddy
Each year, on Remembrance Day weekend, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice hosts a memorial service called “Remembering Our Children.” This year,…
Jacob's Ladder to...Where?
In the dream image of Jacob’s ladder, angelic messengers are coming down and going up. In Torah, characters sometimes interpret…